Worship, Wisdom & Wealth: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Worship, Wisdom & Wealth" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends, and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: Worship Before the Breakthrough

Based on the Message: “Worship, Wisdom & Wealth” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

“Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it." - 2 Chronicles 1:6

Devotional: Before Solomon enacted a single policy or issued a royal decree, he gathered the entire nation for one purpose: worship. Not the kind of worship that requires a microphone and a praise team, but the kind that demands an altar and a costly sacrifice. Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings: a lavish, extravagant act of total surrender to God. This wasn't about getting something from God; it was about honoring the one who placed him in the seat of authority.

Too often, we approach God with our wish lists ready, treating Him like a cosmic vending machine. We want breakthrough, blessing, and provision, but we skip the step Solomon took first: complete, costly worship. Solomon understood that before he could effectively lead or make royal decisions, he needed to acknowledge the One who placed him in the seat of authority. His position, future, and very breath came from God alone.

Worship is the foundation of everything God wants to do in your life. When you surrender fully at the altar, you position yourself to receive what God has for you. Before God granted Solomon wealth, Solomon surrendered in worship. Solomon's act of worship invited God's presence, which eventually led God to bestow wisdom and wealth. It all started with Solomon's costly sacrifice at the altar.

Quote: "Solomon's first act as the king of all of Israel was to lead all of God's people at every level: commanders, judges, leaders, and heads of households. He led them in worship through a costly sacrifice." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does Solomon's costly sacrificial offering cause us to reconsider how we approach the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I come to Your altar today with empty hands and a surrendered heart. I don't want to give You leftovers or partial devotion. I lay down my plans, fears, desires, and will. Consume it all, Lord. Let my worship be pure and pleasing to You, not because of what I hope to gain, but because of who You are. Teach me to honor You first in all things. I trust that when I seek You above all else, everything I need will follow. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 2: The Bronze Altar: Where Surrender Begins

Based on the Message: “Worship, Wisdom & Wealth” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." - Romans 12:1

Devotional: In the ancient tabernacle, the bronze altar was the first piece of sacred furniture worshipers encountered in the outer court. In Hebrew, the word altar literally translates to 'the killing place'—where sacrifices were made, blood was shed, and atonement occurred. With a burnt offering, the entire animal was consumed, signifying total dedication to God. You couldn't approach the inner court without first stopping at the bronze altar. It was a physical reminder: access to a holy God requires sacrifice.

The problem with many believers today is that we want intimacy with God without the altar. We want His presence without sacrifice; His favor without surrender. We sing songs and attend services, but our hearts remain partially committed. We're still holding back, still negotiating with God about what we'll give Him and what we'll keep for ourselves. That's not how the altar works. The burnt offering consumed everything; no leftovers or no to-go plates; just total surrender.

Paul understood this when he wrote Romans 12:1. He instructs us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice as our 'spiritual worship.' This is not about singing or attending church; it is a matter of total surrender of life. That includes dying to our flesh and no longer conforming to the pattern of this world. Total surrender isn't just a one-time event; it's a daily decision to lay everything on the altar of a holy God.

Until we embrace the bronze altar, we'll keep wandering in the outer court, never experiencing the deeper things of God. Total surrender is where intimacy with God begins.

Quote: "The burnt offering not only dealt with sin, but it also dealt with surrender. Some of us are trying to deal with our sins, but have not yet embraced total surrender."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what ways do we partially surrender to God? What would total surrender look like in that area?

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I've been holding back parts of my life from You. Today, I bring everything to Your altar. Holy fire, consume my flesh and everything that is in rebellion to You. I want to be fully Yours: no reservations or conditions; just complete surrender. Teach me what it means to be a living sacrifice. Help me die to myself daily so that Your life can flow through me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 3: Ask for Wisdom, Not Just Wealth

Based on the Message: “Worship, Wisdom & Wealth” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of yours?" - 2 Chronicles 1:10

Devotional: When God offered Solomon anything he wanted, Solomon could have asked for riches, power, fame, or revenge on his enemies. Instead, he asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's people well. That single request revealed the condition of Solomon's heart. He didn't want personal gain; he wanted divine insight. He understood that without God's wisdom, he had nothing. And God's response was extraordinary: because Solomon asked for the right thing, God gave him wisdom and wealth.

We live in a world obsessed with accumulation: more money, increased influence, and greater security. But God calls us to a different priority. He wants us to hunger for His wisdom above everything else. When we seek His mind, ways, and perspective, He adds everything else we need. Here's the problem: most of us pray for outcomes instead of wisdom. We ask for financial breakthroughs without asking for the wisdom to steward wealth. We ask for open doors without asking for discernment to know which doors to walk through.

Wisdom isn't just book knowledge; it's the ability to apply God's truth to real-life situations. God-given wisdom is supernatural discernment that sees beyond the surface and aligns your decisions with God's will. When you ask for wisdom, you're asking for God's mind to become your mind and His ways to become your ways. When that happens, wealth, favor, and blessings follow; not as your focus, but as the overflow of living in alignment with God.

Solomon's story teaches us this: worship leads to wisdom, and wisdom positions you for wealth. The order matters!

Quote: "Because Solomon requested wisdom, God decided to give him exceedingly and abundantly above what he asked. Because Solomon desired to bless God rather than himself, God blessed him with abundant wealth as well. You can't beat God giving!" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: If God asked you today, 'What do you want Me to give you?' what would your honest answer be, and what does that reveal about your heart?

Prayer: Father, I confess that my prayers are often focused on what I want rather than what You want for me. Today, I ask for wisdom—not just knowledge, but divine insight to make decisions that honor You. Teach me to think like You think, to see as You see, and to align my will with Yours. I trust that when I seek Your wisdom first, everything else I need will follow. Give me discernment to recognize Your voice and courage to obey it. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 4: From Compliance to Alliance

Based on the Message: “Worship, Wisdom & Wealth” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Devotional: There are levels to our relationship with God, especially when it comes to giving. Some of us are in defiance, resisting God's call to generosity altogether. Others have moved to compliance, giving the minimum required out of obligation, not out of joy. But God's desire is for us to reach alliance. This is a place where we partner with Him cheerfully, generously, and expectantly, knowing that He is faithful to His promises.

Think about how wealthy people approach investing. They don't resent putting money into stocks, real estate, or businesses. They do it cheerfully because they believe their money will grow. They're not giving reluctantly; they're investing strategically. Spiritually speaking, God is calling us to the same mindset. When we give to His kingdom, we're not just fulfilling a religious duty. We're partnering with the God who is greater than any economy. We're sowing into eternal outcomes.

The problem is that too many believers treat giving like paying taxes: reluctantly, minimally, and joylessly. But God doesn't want forced obedience. He wants joyful partnership. He wants us to trust Him enough to sow bountifully, knowing that He rewards generous hearts. When we move from compliance to alliance, our entire perspective shifts. We stop asking, 'How little can I give?' and start asking, 'How much can I invest in what God is doing?'

Generosity isn't about obligation; it's about relationship. It's about trusting that when you sow into God's kingdom, not only will He take care of you; He provides seed to the sower!

Quote: "Do you treat God like the IRS or an investment partner? What if we started looking at our relationship with God as a matter of alliance and partnership versus compliance and compulsion?"- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Are you giving out of begrudging compliance or out of joyful alliance with God? What needs to shift in your heart to move toward more cheerful generosity?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me if I've treated giving as an obligation rather than an opportunity. Forgive me for approaching You with reluctance instead of joy. I want to move from compliance to alliance; from obligation to cheerful partnership with You. Teach me to trust You with my finances, my time, and my resources. Help me see giving not as a loss, but as an investment in Your kingdom. Open my eyes to the joy of generosity and the blessing of being in partnership with You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 5: Breaking the Pattern of This World

Based on the Message: “Worship, Wisdom & Wealth” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:2

Devotional: The world has a pattern; a system of thinking, behaving, and prioritizing that is fundamentally opposed to God's kingdom. It seduces you to chase wealth without seeking wisdom; to live for pleasure apart from God's purpose; to trust in your hustle rather than trusting in Yahweh. The world's pattern is loud, attractive, and everywhere. If you're not careful, you'll conform to it without even realizing it.

Paul's command in Romans 12:2 is clear: don't conform. No longer allow the world to squeeze you into its mold. Renounce its values, priorities, and definitions of success. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Resist getting your wisdom from Instagram influencers, toxic friends, and cultural trends; go directly to the higher source, God. Pursue His Word, the voice of the Holy Spirit, and godly counsel rooted in truth.

Breaking the pattern of this world isn't passive; it's an active, daily choice. It necessitates saying no to the seductive text message that pulls you back into sin. It requires walking away from relationships that compromise your integrity. It calls for choosing God's way even when it's costly, uncomfortable, or unpopular. The world's pattern leads to destruction; God's pattern leads to life, peace, and breakthrough.

You don't have to stay stuck in the same cycles. At the altar of surrender, God breaks the pattern. He renews your mind, realigns your priorities, and sets you on a new path. However, you have to be willing to break the pattern.

Quote: "Stop relying on Instagram, influencers, and carnal people for earthly wisdom. You need godly wisdom that comes from above. Ask God, and He will give wisdom liberally." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What pattern of this world has a hold on your thinking or behavior, and what are you willing to surrender to break that pattern today?

Father, forgive me if I have been conformed to the pattern of this world, allowing cultural norms, toxic relationships, and worldly wisdom to shape my thinking. Today, I ask You to renew my mind. Break every pattern that doesn't align with Your kingdom. Give me the courage to walk away from what's familiar yet destructive. Fill me with Your wisdom, will, and ways. Help me discern what is Your good, pleasing and perfect will. Transform me from the inside out. In Jesus' name, amen.